Tartuffe - Molière

Summary

Molière's 'Tartuffe, or The Imposter' is a five-act verse comedy that satirizes religious hypocrisy and extreme piety. The play centers on Orgon, a wealthy Parisian bourgeois, who falls under the spell of Tartuffe, a seemingly pious but actually manipulative imposter. Orgon is so infatuated with Tartuffe that he brings him into his home, treats him like a saint, and gives him complete authority over his family and possessions, much to the dismay of his sensible wife Elmire, his children Damis and Mariane, his brother-in-law Cléante, and especially his sharp-witted maid Dorine.

Tartuffe's true nature is slowly revealed as he attempts to seduce Elmire, tries to sabotage Mariane's engagement to Valère by forcing her to marry him instead, and eventually manages to disinherit Damis and seize Orgon's entire estate through legal trickery and blackmail. Despite overwhelming evidence of Tartuffe's duplicity, Orgon remains blindly devoted until he witnesses Tartuffe's villainy firsthand during a staged confrontation orchestrated by Elmire.

When Orgon finally sees Tartuffe for what he is, it's almost too late. Tartuffe attempts to have Orgon arrested and evicted, using legal documents Orgon foolishly signed. However, the play concludes with a deus ex machina as the King intervenes, revealing that he had been aware of Tartuffe's true criminal history all along. Tartuffe is arrested, Orgon's property is restored, and the family is united, celebrating the triumph of reason and justice over blind faith and deception.

Book Sections

Section 1 (Act I)

The play opens in Orgon's home, where Madame Pernelle, Orgon's mother, is preparing to leave after a visit, lecturing the entire family about their worldly behavior and praising Tartuffe, a man she believes to be a devout and virtuous ascetic whom Orgon has taken in. The rest of the family – Orgon's wife Elmire, his children Damis and Mariane, his brother-in-law Cléante, and the maid Dorine – attempt to reason with her, pointing out Tartuffe's hypocrisy and arrogance, but Madame Pernelle refuses to listen. After she leaves, the family expresses their profound irritation with Tartuffe and their bewilderment at Orgon's blind devotion to him. Cléante tries to persuade Dorine to speak to Orgon about Tartuffe's true nature, but she asserts that Orgon is too far gone. Orgon finally enters, and his first concern is not for his sick wife but for Tartuffe, which further exasperates the family and confirms his extreme obsession.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Orgon	Wealthy patriarch, formerly rational, now fanatically devout and completely infatuated with Tartuffe.	Desires spiritual salvation, seeks approval from Tartuffe, values what he perceives as piety above all else.
Elmire	Orgon's second wife, sensible, virtuous, and practical.	Wishes for peace and harmony in her household, tries to reason with Orgon, protects her family.
Damis	Orgon's son, hot-headed, impulsive, and outspoken.	Desires to expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy, protect his family's honor and inheritance, impatient for justice.
Mariane	Orgon's daughter, gentle, submissive, and in love with Valère.	Wishes to marry Valère, desires her father's approval, but struggles to oppose him directly.
Cléante	Orgon's brother-in-law, voice of reason, philosophical, and moderate.	Seeks to restore sanity and balance to the household, advises caution and rationality, disapproves of fanaticism.
Dorine	Mariane's maid, witty, sharp-tongued, observant, and loyal.	Protects Mariane's interests, despises Tartuffe, acts as a truth-teller and manipulator for good.
Madame Pernelle	Orgon's mother, opinionated, judgmental, and completely deceived by Tartuffe's outward piety.	Believes she is upholding virtue and moral standards, admires Tartuffe as a spiritual guide.

Section 2 (Act II)

Orgon informs Mariane that he intends to break her engagement to Valère and marry her to Tartuffe instead. Mariane is distraught, but Orgon remains unyielding, describing Tartuffe's supposed virtues. Dorine, witnessing this, tries to intervene, mocking Orgon's sudden change of heart and the ridiculousness of his plan. She points out Tartuffe's poverty and lack of social standing compared to Valère. Orgon, however, dismisses her arguments, asserting that Tartuffe's spiritual wealth is far greater. Mariane is too timid to openly defy her father, leading to a comedic and emotional scene where Dorine tries to coach her on how to respond.

Later, Valère enters, having heard rumors of Orgon's intentions. A lovers' quarrel ensues between Mariane and Valère, fueled by misunderstanding and pride, each believing the other is willing to give up on their love. Dorine finally steps in, forcing them to reconcile and strategize on how to prevent the unwanted marriage. She instructs them to pretend to go along with Orgon's plan while buying time and working to expose Tartuffe.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Valère	Mariane's suitor, passionate, somewhat proud, and deeply in love with Mariane.	Desires to marry Mariane, secure his future with her, and protect their relationship from Tartuffe.

Section 3 (Act III)

Damis, still enraged by Tartuffe, hides himself to eavesdrop, hoping to catch Tartuffe in a compromising situation. Elmire, having recovered from her illness, decides to confront Tartuffe directly. She politely asks him about the rumor that he intends to marry Mariane, which Tartuffe evasively confirms. Tartuffe then misinterprets Elmire's sympathetic demeanor as an invitation and begins to make advances towards her, professing his love and suggesting a secret affair. He assures her that a "secret sin is no sin" as long as it isn't public, revealing his true hypocritical nature.

Damis, unable to contain himself, bursts out of his hiding place, ready to expose Tartuffe to Orgon. Elmire tries to calm him, preferring a more discreet approach, but Damis is too furious. Orgon arrives, and Damis immediately recounts Tartuffe's propositions to Elmire. Tartuffe, however, masterfully feigns humility and contrition, admitting to being a sinner but denying the malicious intent. Orgon, completely blinded by his devotion, refuses to believe Damis. Instead, he scolds his son for lying and disinherits him, banishing him from the house. In an act of extreme folly, Orgon declares that he will spite his family by marrying Mariane to Tartuffe immediately and, even more shockingly, signs over all his property to Tartuffe, making him the sole heir.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Tartuffe	The imposter, outwardly pious and humble, but secretly lecherous, greedy, and manipulative.	Desires wealth, social status, and Elmire; seeks to exploit Orgon's gullibility for personal gain.

Section 4 (Act IV)

Cléante attempts to reason with Tartuffe, urging him to reconcile with Damis and restore the family's peace. Tartuffe, however, responds with feigned piety, claiming that Damis's actions have left him too spiritually wounded to forgive. He uses religious excuses to justify his continued presence and his acceptance of Orgon's inheritance. Cléante sees through his facade and openly criticizes Tartuffe's hypocrisy.

Mariane, distraught over the impending marriage, pleads with her father, even threatening suicide. Orgon remains unmoved. Elmire then proposes a plan to Orgon: she will prove Tartuffe's true nature to him if Orgon will hide and observe. Orgon, still doubting, agrees to hide under a table in the room.

Elmire summons Tartuffe and, by pretending to be interested in his advances, lures him into revealing his true character once more. She encourages him, feigning affection, and Tartuffe, believing he has succeeded, becomes bolder in his propositions. He openly insults Orgon, calling him a "fool" and assuring Elmire that he can betray Orgon without divine retribution, as long as it remains secret. Orgon, from his hiding place, finally sees and hears the undeniable truth. He emerges from under the table, furious, and confronts Tartuffe. Tartuffe, initially taken aback, quickly regains his composure and reminds Orgon that the house now legally belongs to him. He threatens to expose a hidden casket of incriminating political documents Orgon entrusted to him, effectively holding Orgon hostage. Tartuffe then leaves, warning Orgon that he will soon regret his defiance.

Section 5 (Act V)

Orgon is in despair, realizing the depth of Tartuffe's treachery and his own folly. Cléante tries to console him and advises caution, but the family is in shock. Madame Pernelle arrives, still defending Tartuffe, despite the family's desperate pleas to make her understand. She refuses to believe Orgon's account, convinced that the family is simply slandering a good man.

Suddenly, Monsieur Loyal, a bailiff, arrives with an eviction notice, demanding Orgon and his family vacate the house, which now legally belongs to Tartuffe. Monsieur Loyal, feigning politeness, is actually a merciless agent of Tartuffe. Even with this concrete proof, Madame Pernelle struggles to accept Tartuffe's villainy.

Damis bursts in with news that Tartuffe has gone to the King to present the incriminating casket of documents Orgon had entrusted to him. Orgon had kept these documents for a friend, Arsinoe, who was in exile for political reasons, and now Tartuffe plans to use them to ruin Orgon. Orgon and Valère prepare to flee, but they are stopped by the arrival of an officer of the King. Just when it seems all hope is lost, the officer reveals that the King, being a wise and just monarch, saw through Tartuffe's imposture from the beginning. The King had been informed of Tartuffe's true criminal nature and had recognized his attempt to extort Orgon. The officer arrests Tartuffe for multiple past crimes. The King also restores Orgon's property and pardons him for harboring the politically sensitive documents, recognizing Orgon's service in the King's cause during a previous rebellion.

The play ends with Orgon expressing immense gratitude to the King and giving his blessing for Mariane and Valère to marry. The family celebrates the triumph of justice and reason, with Tartuffe being led away to prison.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Monsieur Loyal	A bailiff, outwardly polite but ruthless and obedient to Tartuffe.	Executes legal orders, serves Tartuffe's interests, cares only for the letter of the law.
L'Exempt (The Officer)	An officer of the King, representing the King's justice and wisdom.	Carries out the King's commands, enforces justice, reveals the King's foresight and benevolence.

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Literary Genre: Comedy, Satire, Farce. Specifically, it's a verse comedy (comédie en cinq actes et en vers) in the classical French tradition.

Facts about the Author (Molière):

• Real Name: Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (1622–1673). He adopted the stage name "Molière" to protect his family from the disgrace associated with acting.
• Playwright and Actor: Molière was not only a celebrated playwright but also a leading actor and director of his own company, the Troupe de Molière (later the Comédie Française).
• Master of Satire: He is renowned for his satirical comedies that exposed hypocrisy, pretension, and the follies of 17th-century French society, often using stock characters and elaborate plots.
• Royal Patronage: Despite controversies (like with Tartuffe), Molière enjoyed the patronage and protection of King Louis XIV, which was crucial for his career and allowed him to push boundaries.
• Tragic End: Molière died shortly after collapsing on stage during a performance of his final play, Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), in which he played the hypochondriac lead.

Moral of the Book:
The primary moral of Tartuffe is a warning against religious hypocrisy and excessive, blind devotion. Molière distinguishes between true piety, which is sincere and humble, and false piety, which is a disguise for greed, lust, and manipulation. The play advocates for reason, moderation, and common sense in matters of faith and personal judgment, urging people to see beyond outward appearances and scrutinize the true character of those who claim spiritual authority. It also highlights the dangers of fanaticism and the importance of a just and discerning ruler.

Curiosities of the Book:

• Controversy and Banning: Tartuffe was highly controversial upon its first performance in 1664. It was immediately banned by the Archbishop of Paris and the dévots (a powerful cabal of religious zealots) who saw it as an attack on religion itself. The play underwent several revisions and bans before finally being performed publicly and successfully in its definitive version in 1669.
• The King's Role: King Louis XIV played a crucial role in the play's eventual acceptance. While initially yielding to pressure from the Church, he eventually supported Molière, recognizing the play's artistic merit and its critique of false piety rather than true religion. The deus ex machina ending, where the King intervenes to save Orgon, can be seen as a flattering tribute to Louis XIV, portraying him as a wise and just monarch.
• Character Archetype: Tartuffe himself became an archetype of the religious hypocrite in French literature and culture, similar to how Don Juan represents the libertine. The term "tartuffe" itself entered the French language to describe such a person.
• Verse vs. Prose: The play is written entirely in alexandrine verse (a twelve-syllable line), which was the standard for serious French drama of the period. Molière mastered this form while infusing it with comedic rhythm and natural dialogue.
• Absence of Tartuffe: A striking feature of the play is that Tartuffe, the titular character, does not appear until Act III, building suspense and allowing the audience to hear the other characters' differing opinions and experiences of him first.